Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-04
Italy, ENGLAND, and M.ssowah.

Italy, England, and M tsSoWan.
Reports are conflicting as to the exact
nature of the fighting that recently
took place in that portion OF the Red
Sea lttoral occupied by Italy. On
Tuesday it was stated in the Italian
Chamber of Deputies that an lta-
Ian force engaged in conjunction
with the Abyssinian troops in the
work of attempting the relief OF
EassaIa had met with serious disaster.
Advices of yesterday from Rome state
that the fighting was not between a
combined force Of Abyssinians and
Italians and the Arabs, but between
Italians and Abyssinians. However,
one thing is certain, the trouble. what
ever it may he, has created great excite
mentin Italy, and Italian reinforcements
are being sent to Massowah, the base
OF ltaly's operations on the African
coast. Nor is that all. This evident
determination of Italy TO maintain her
foothold in Africa can hardly fail to
intensity the interest in the Soudan
problem, which was recently awakened
by the news of the perils that environ
EM1N Bey. Active italian operations
in the Soudan date back to
January, 1886, when On expedi-
ton was sent out from Naples and
took possession of Massowah and
other points on the coast near the
Abyssinian border Massowah is a
town of about 1000 inhabitants, is
the natural outlet for the products of
q large area of rich Soudanese coun-
try, and is the Red-Sea terminus OF
the route from SEMINAR and Kassala.
The last named place is about
two hundred miles northwest of Masso
wah, and has figured prominently in
the history of the Soudan troubles. 1t
has held out gallantly against the forces
of the Mahdi up to the present time,
although on several occasions the gar
rison has been reduced to desperate
straits, and is one of the points Cor
DON repeatedly appealed to the Eng
lish Government to relieve. These
appeals were needed only to the extent
that when England concluded treaty
with King JOHN, of Abyssinia, the lat
ter engaged to send force to succor
the garrisons of Kassala, Gelahat, Ge
dari, and Girah, and to facilitate their
withdrawal. The first Italian expedition
sent to Massowah has been reinforced
several times, and the Italian army of
occupation has held its own against
great odds. Severe fighting with the
natives has taken place ON more than
one occasion, and the climate and the
privations incident tothe situation have
been terrible strain on the troops.
The expedition received the coun-
tenance of Great Britain, and its
results have been an important fac
tor in keeping alive interest in the work
that Power commenced in the Soudan.
1t is therefore not only probable that in
case of any serious trouble between
Abyssinia and Italy England will inter
fere in the interest Of peace, but it may
be she will conclude that the time
has come for restoring her prestige
in the Red-Sea littoral and on the up
per Nile. This can only be done to
the satisfaction of the British tax-pay-
ers by "civilizing" the most fertile
portions of the Soudan, so as to open
them up to British traders The English
people have not forgotten the cost OF
the Wo1sELEY expedition, and while
there may be no stipulation between
Italy and Great Britain regarding aid to
the former by the latter in the matter OF
holding Massowah and opening up the
route to Kassala and Seminar, the under
standing is such that pressure from
English interests would afford the Bri-
fish Government sufficient excuse for
agreeing to what in substance would be
d Joint expedition of English and Ital-
ians. That the British public are ripe
TO bring such pressure to bear is shown
by the interest they have manifested
IN the expedition for the relief of EM1N
/ RaV